Oldest of nine, went off to seminary at 13, celebrated my 21st birthday in Saigon with a camera and a forty-five around my neck and on my hip, married my teenage sweetheart, have three Eagle Scout sons, all Citadel grads, flew helicopters until I was thirty-one, and have enjoyed a career of growth and change, still pitching, not a spectator, staunch independent practice advocate, lifelong stoic.  My favorite quote this year is “Courage, dear heart,” by C.S. Lewis.  MM